Before/After samples?

I'm new here (been lurking for a month or so), and I'm new to mastering.

I've been a performing musician for 20 years, but lately I've been doing some recording. I have a typical small digital setup at home - but I don't get it to sound 'right' (mix is OK but not the 'sound'). So I went to a 'real' studio. Same deal.

What I'm wondering is, is this what it's supposed to sound like after mixing? Is it the mastering stage that does the 'magic'? Or is this the best it's going to get? Am I comparing chalk and cheese at this point?

We're having our first cd made soon. I'm not happy with the sound at this stage (but maybe that's what it's supposed to sound like). We will have it mastered professionally finally but I need to be happy before then.

This is a long winded way of saying, is anybody willing (or allowed) to post some before/after samples of some music so I (and others I guess), can hear what mastering can do?

Mastering is the final set of ears to bring it all together as a whole, the sum of all the variables.

To be happy, you could ask to get one tune done (usually at no charge for a sample) and show everyone what mastering is all about. Sometimes the mastering engineer may want you to revisit the mix as well.

It is the final touches that make Paintings "finished", as so with mastering your material.

If you are not happy with the mix you are not done!! I can't stress this enough. You should not go into a mastering sessions with the hopes that it is all the sudden going to fix the bad hi hat and the out of tune vocal and the kick drum you cant hear..

Keep mixing until you are happy with them. Then if you have it professionally mastered you will love it.